Researching Genre - Horror, Action & Adventure, Drama

1. RESEARCHING
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2. Stock Characters
•There is a main hero.
•Oppositional character who is usually
a different gender or in conflict with
the main central character
Stock Plots, Situations, Issues & Themes
•Usually a fight between good and evil.
•The hero ends up being triumphant.
•Due to location, hazards can happen such as earthquakes,
volcanoes and struggling through jungles.

3. Stock Props &
Signifiers
•Machinery.
•Hi-tech devices.
•‘Flashy’ transport.
•Weapons.
Generic Conventions
•Fast editing.
•Special effects make car chases, fights and explosions very
realistic and believable.
Issues of Representation
•Typical gender roles are played, as the hero is typically a male due to
stereotypes (although more modern films do not follow this).

4. Stock Plots, Situations,
Issues & Themes
•Usually a fight between good
and evil.
•The hero ends up being
triumphant.
•Due to location, hazards can
happen such as earthquakes,
volcanoes and struggling
through jungles.
Stock Locations &
Backdrops
•Exotic & remote locations – ie
volcanoes, islands, jungles.
•Big cities with a lot of
nightlife.
Music & Sounds
•Upbeat and driving music, causing anticipation and
adrenaline.

5. Stock Characters
•The Supernatural – ie vampires, demons and ghosts.
OR
•The killer – psychotic human.
•Victims – usually a group heavily featuring young adults
and/or teenagers.
Stock Plots, Situations, Issues & Themes
•There is someone who usually trips over something while
running from the killer.
•Someone hides and we see the killer walk past. They then
come out of hiding thinking that they are safe, but end up
being killed.

6. Stock Locations & Backdrops
•Haunted house.
•Somewhere abandoned.
•Grave yard.
•Usually at night/dark setting.
Stock Props & Signifiers
•Masks (the killer).
•Costumes (the killer).
•Weapons such as knives and chainsaws
(guns are very rare).
Music & Sounds
•Sound plays a big part to create suspense and tension for the
viewer.

7. Generic Conventions
•Slow editing is used to create suspense.
•Fast editing is used during more exciting
parts of a scene – e.g. when someone is
being chased by the killer.
Issues of Representation
•Horror films use a lot of stereotypes (for
example, there is often a young blonde
female who is recognised as the ‘dumb
blonde’ stereotype and is killed quickly.

8. DRAMA
Stock Characters
•Realistic characters such as everyday people, families and
children.
Stock Plots, Situations, Issues & Themes
• Usually about conflict/internal struggles.
•The audience can usually relate to the storyline/plot.

9. DRAMA
Generic Conventions
• Variety of low angle, high angle and close up shots.
•Audience is kept emotionally attached throughout by climaxes and
anticlimaxes.
•Due to the broadness of the genre, Drama has a wide variety of
props, location, music and issues of representation depending
on the storyline .

10. MY CHOSEN GENRE IS
DRAMA
To fulfil the repertoire of the drama genre, my work must
include characters that can relate to almost anyone and who
live, what is considered a normal everyday life (i.e. not a
secret agent or superhero). The costumes will also help
represent the character’s lifestyle. Furthermore, the plot
should be emotionally gripping and deal with internal conflict
and struggles in life such as illnesses, family/friend issues
etc. In terms of location, I am able to film in a wide variety of
places as long as they relate to the characters storyline.
Music will play a big part in my work as in this genre, music
helps to especially amplify and enhance the emotions that
the audience are meant to feel. The music will generally be
emotive as the storyline is most likely to be quite emotional.